The new AFD4400 includes the hardware required to implement a radio’s
digital functions in a single device. When combined with Freescale’s
extensive reference designs and programming tools, the solution makes
radio design easier, faster and more efficient. In addition, the AFD4400
is architected for seamless integration with Freescale’s broad portfolio
of second-generation Airfast RF power transistors and RF Integrated
Circuits (RFICs), supporting optimal performance in wideband systems
ranging from traditional macro base station radios and remote radio
heads to small cell base stations and active antenna array systems.

Traditional design processes can slow the development of cellular
radios, because solutions based on ASICs and FPGAs require multiple
steps: Hardware logic design, followed by software development and
product integration. Not only is this complex, expensive and
time-consuming, the ASIC approach in particular makes it impossible to
rapidly implement changes in wireless standards, frequency bands and
signal bandwidths because, once fabricated, the ASIC’s functions are
fixed.

The AFD4400 transforms this paradigm by allowing designers to fully
program and optimize a radio via software and modify it again with no
changes in hardware. Adding frequency bands and modifying RF power
levels is simplified as well, as the AFD4400 seamlessly integrates with
Freescale’s second-generation Airfast RF power solutions available for
virtually all bands worldwide, and supported by reference designs,
evaluation boards and other tools.

“Freescale’s new AFD4400 redefines radio design for cellular base
stations by dramatically streamlining development cycles – allowing
systems designers to focus on software and proprietary IP that help them
differentiate and win in extremely competitive markets,” said Paul Hart,
senior vice president and general manager of Freescale’s RF business.
“This product adds tremendous value to our customers, and yet again
illustrates Freescale’s commitment to RF technology innovation and
leadership.”

The AFD4400 signal processing subsystem leverages an array of vector
signal processing cores built on Freescale’s Vector Signal Processor
Accelerator (VSPA) architecture. The cores perform virtually all
functions using floating-point arithmetic to support the largest
possible dynamic range, with an added benefit of accelerating the
transition from algorithm development to product realization. The vector
processor array is segmented into transmit, receive and adaptation paths
with a combined throughput of 3.5 teraflops, providing the performance
required to support LTE, WCDMA, CDMA and GSM networks in both single and
multi-mode configurations.

Freescale supports the AFD4400 with a comprehensive suite of hardware
and software development tools. A development kit includes a modular
AFD4400 reference design board (RDB), a choice of several transceiver
cards, a shielding chassis, an RF power amplifier reference pallet, host
and control software for simplified system setup and configuration, and
a quick-start guide.

A comprehensive signal processing reference library eases the transition
from hardware-centric to software-based signal processing, while
integrated reference application software, optimized for Freescale’s
Airfast RF power amplifiers, enables rapid evaluation of DPD performance
over most cellular frequency bands and RF power levels. The library
includes a wide selection of filter functions, an
interpolation/decimation building block, FFT/IFFT functions, LLS/RLS
algorithms, crest factor reduction, and DPD subsystems up to 983 MSPS.
The signal processing library is augmented with bit-exact MATLAB®
functions to enable rapid system prototype simulations during algorithm
development and integration.

Freescale’s CodeWarrior Development Studio provides a comprehensive,
Eclipse-based software development environment for the VSPA signal
processing cores. It includes an optimizing compiler, assembler, linker
and cycle accurate instruction set simulator.

Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE:
FSL) enables secure, embedded processing
solutions for the Internet of Tomorrow. Freescale’s solutions drive a
more innovative and connected world, simplifying our lives and making us
safer. While serving the world’s largest companies, Freescale is also
committed to supporting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
education, enabling the next generation of innovators.
www.freescale.com.